A new video about what happens at bowel screening has been produced by the Public Health Agency. It covers how to take the test, processing the samples at the laboratory, receiving your results and being called back to colonoscopy. It is hoped the video will help clear up confusion about how to take the test and clarify the process. The video is also available in British and Irish sign language and subtitled.

The video is on the Northern Ireland Cancer Screening Programmes website at the following link:

The Zika virus is an infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitos. The infection often occurs without symptoms but it can cause a mild illness which can include fever, headache, rash, joint and muscle pain, and conjunctivitis.

There is no vaccine or drug treatment and patients affected are advised to rest and drink plenty of fluids.

The infection is by and large spread by the mosquito. A Q&A on the Zika virus can be found here on the NHS Choices website.

Zika virus transmission occurs in many countries; a map showing areas with past or current evidence of Zika virus transmission is available here.

A possible link to exposure to the Zika virus during pregnancy and microcephaly (a birth defect where a baby's head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age) and other congenital malformations has been identified.

All travellers to the affected countries should ensure they seek travel health advice from their GP or a travel clinic well in advance of their trip and consult the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website for up to date information on current outbreaks and country information.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant you should consider avoiding travel to areas where Zika virus outbreaks are currently reported.